Virtual Commencement Allows Family, Faculty, and Staff to Celebrate Graduates’ Achievement

Ceremony Honors Resilience and Perseverance During Pandemic

Virginia Beach, VA – Each year, many ECPI University online graduates travel to Virginia to participate in commencement, along with students from the Virginia Beach campus. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented this from taking place. So, why not put on a virtual ceremony? That’s exactly what the online team did, complete with music, speakers, and presentation of degrees. 

“We felt it was important that we not only honor our students’ accomplishment, but also provide an opportunity for their family, friends, associates, neighbors and co-workers, who have supported them, to join in on the celebration,” says ECPI University Vice President of eLearning and Online Education Aaron Wettstein. “This has certainly been no ordinary school year. By nature, online students are great multitaskers and highly adaptable, but the pressures of the pandemic have affected them just like everyone else. So, this is also a celebration of their perseverance.” 

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Tuesday, September 29, 2020

ECPI University Stands Out in Annual US. News & World Report’s Best Colleges

Top 5 Rankings for Ethnic and Economic Diversity

Virginia Beach, VA – U.S. News & World Report has announced its annual rankings of America’s Best Colleges and once again, ECPI University has been selected for excellence in academics and superior student support. Each year, U.S. News identifies top schools based on 17 key measures, including:

  • Class sizes
  • Faculty with doctoral degrees
  • Financial resources
  • Student retention averages
  • Student debt
  • Graduation rate
  • Expert Opinions
  • Financial resources per student
  • Academic reputation
  • Social mobility 

The 2021 edition provides data on more than 1,800 colleges and universities, with rankings for more than 1,400 institutions. ECPI University, with campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, is ranked among the best Regional Universities in the South. Moreover, ECPI University stands at #3 for Economic Diversity and #5 for Ethnic Diversity.

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Wednesday, September 16, 2020

ECPI University Stands Out in Annual US. News & World Report’s Best Colleges

Top 5 Rankings for Ethnic and Economic Diversity

Virginia Beach, VA – U.S. News & World Report has announced its annual rankings of America’s Best Colleges and once again, ECPI University has been selected for excellence in academics and superior student support. Each year, U.S. News identifies top schools based on 17 key measures, including:

  • Class sizes
  • Faculty with doctoral degrees
  • Financial resources
  • Student retention averages
  • Student debt
  • Graduation rate
  • Expert Opinions
  • Financial resources per student
  • Academic reputation
  • Social mobility 

The 2021 edition provides data on more than 1,800 colleges and universities, with rankings for more than 1,400 institutions. ECPI University, with campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, is ranked among the best Regional Universities in the South. Moreover, ECPI University stands at #3 for Economic Diversity and #5 for Ethnic Diversity.

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Campuses Reopen with Safety in Mind

ECPI University Establishes Extensive Protocols to Help Protect Against Coronavirus, Helping Students Stay on Course for Graduation

Virginia Beach, VA – While the nation continues its efforts to contain the Coronavirus, many states are slowly reopening. ECPI University is reopening as well, but taking great care to welcome students back in the safest possible manner. “Rigorously following CDC guidelines, we believe we have established a reopening plan that will help ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” says ECPI University Chief Operating Officer Barbara Larar. 

Cleaning protocols have been enhanced to include cleaning and disinfecting common areas, restrooms, and high touch surfaces each day. Faculty, staff, and students will be required to maintain this cleaning standard by cleaning and disinfecting their personal workstations, classrooms, and labs before starting and ending work/class each day. Moreover, they have been instructed not to use one another's phones, desks, workstations or other work tools and equipment. Other protocols include: 

  • Faculty and staff will enter the building through designated entrances. All other entrances and exits will be locked.
  • Faculty, staff, and students will have their temperature taken when they enter the building – if their temperature is above 100.4, they will be asked to go home and follow the self-quarantine protocol provided by Human Resources.
  • Face Coverings/Masks should be worn in all common areas – if someone does not have a face covering/mask, one will be provided for them.
  • Sanitizing stations have been set up near all entry/exit points, elevators, stairwells, and other high-touch surface areas. Students, faculty, and staff have been asked to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day, and refrain from hand shaking or other physical contact.
  • Elevators will be limited to 2 passengers at a time.
  • Signage and floor markings will be visible throughout the campus to remind everyone of proper preventative measures and social distancing protocols.
  • Faculty, staff, and students will complete a confidential health assessment prior to returning to work/school.
  • Classrooms and labs have been reconfigured to allow for distancing between workstations    
Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Tuesday, May 19, 2020

ECPI University Announces Accelerate Tech Talent to Support Virginia’s Computer Science Initiative

Virginia Beach, VA – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced a plan to create 31,000 new computer science graduates over 20 years. As Virginia’s largest private producer of computer science degree graduates, ECPI University is augmenting this effort with its Accelerate Tech Talent Virginia

“The Accelerate Tech Talent Virginia initiative will produce 3,000 more computer science graduates over the next 20 years, as its contribution to the Governor’s goal. This means ECPI University will produce more than 18,000 graduates over the next 20 years”, says ECPI University President Mark Dreyfus. 

One reason why colleges and universities have difficulty attracting students to computer science is because many lack confidence. “When we talk to both career switchers and high school students, we find that many see computer science as a very attractive career path, but they doubt their own abilities,” says ECPI University Dean of Computer and Information Science Dr. Keith Morneau. “They worry about doing the math, not realizing that much of the curriculum revolves around critical thinking and problem solving.  We’ve had countless graduates who first came to us with these same doubts and have gone on to thrive in their careers. 

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Monday, November 11, 2019

ECPI University Ranked #1 for Military and Veteran Education for Second Straight Year

Honor Marks 8 Continuous Years on Military Times Best for Vets List

Virginia Beach, VA – Each year, Military Times ranks the best colleges and universities for veterans and military service members, and for the second straight year, ECPI University has been ranked number one in the nation. Designated for excellence in the Career and Technical Colleges category, Military Times ranks schools based on the results of its annual survey, a comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement. 

An editorially independent news project, Best Colleges 2019 evaluates the many variables that determine academic success among military and veteran students. Broadly speaking, Military Times states that institutions are evaluated in five categories: university culture, student support, academic policies, academic outcomes/quality, and cost and financial aid.  Other factors include:

  • Graduation Rate
  • Retention Rate
  • Accreditation
  • Enrollment
  • GI Bill Gap Coverage
  • Yellow Ribbon participant and approved to offer VA Benefits
  • Vet Center of Campus
  • TA Eligibility

Here’s what Military Times survey editors had to say about ECPI University: 

“Nearly one out of every seven staff members at ECPI is a veteran, giving the school one of the highest proportions of vet employees of any school considered for this year’s rankings. That can go a long way toward helping a school understand the needs of its student veteran population. And on top of that, the school conducts surveys of its student vets at least twice per year to gauge their satisfaction with the school and its services. ECPI also has special degree programs for troops and vets, in cybersecurity and electronics engineering that allow them to leverage their military training and experience to earn degrees quickly.” 

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Federal, State, and Local First Responders Join ECPI University for Mass Casualty Disaster Response Simulation

Interdisciplinary Drill Designed to Simulate Campus Active Shooter Drill

Manassas, VAMore than 200 ECPI University students will team up with approximately dozens of first responders to simulate a mass casualty event at the Northern Virginia campus in Manassas on Saturday, October 12. Criminal Justice, Nursing, Surgical Technology, and Radiography students will engage in a fusion-based response event that begins with heavily armed active shooters entering campus, inflicting casualties, then barricading themselves in a classroom.  Included in the first responders who will be guiding the students along the way are:

  • Virginia State Police
  • Prince William County Police
  • Fairfax County Police
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
  • Manassas Park Police
  • First Responder Canine
  • City of Manassas Community Emergency Response Team 

Based on course of study, students will be assigned to teams in order to establish a perimeter, command and control operations center, negotiate with hostage takers, triage victims, and provide emergency care. 

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Friday, September 27, 2019

ECPI University AD and Head Coach Named to eSports Governing Body

Both to Help Shape Future of Intercollegiate Competition

Virginia Beach, VAECPI University is proud to announce that two people from its eSports team, the Rams, have been named to leadership positions within the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). 

At the organization’s recent national convention, ECPI University Athletic Director and Director of Web Services Mike Glover was named to NACE’s board of directors and Rams Head Coach JJ Meyers was selected to join the competition committee. Each will play a pivotal role shaping policy as NACE and intercollegiate eSports quickly evolves. 

“We are in the infancy stages of collegiate esports, every decision made by NACE will a have long lasting and profound impact on esports,” says Glover. “I see being a part of the Board of Directors for NACE as not only a duty, but an obligation.  My goals for the elected term are simple…make sure the private institutions that participate in NACE are fairly represented and have equal say in the direction of collegiate esports. And I am going to do my best to make sure collegiate esports are something generations to come will enjoy, and not have it being something that is just a passing fad. “ 

Contact:
ECPI University Director of Marketing - 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu
Release Date:
Thursday, August 1, 2019